UPDATE NYS AG James Sends Letter to Facebook Opposing Proposed “Instagram for Kids” App

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The ongoing fallout over Facebook’s proposed “Instagram for Kids” app continued this week, prompting a response on Sept. 18 from the company’s VP of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg. Almost four months ago, on May 10, NYS Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter, along with 43 other state attorneys general, to Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, urging him to abandon plans to launch a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13. A scathing article on the topic by the Wall Street Journal published on Sept. 14 did little to temper the debate. In the May letter, the coalition

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York Public Library is expanding its services effective Monday, May 10, at some branches to allow limited browsing and desktop computer use under Phase 2 of its reopening. In the Bronx, the branches that have reopened under Phase 2 include Allerton, Baychester, Belmont, Edenwald, Francis Martin, Highbridge, Jerome Park, Kingsbridge, Parkchester, Van Cortlandt, West Farms and Woodstock. The library system also plans to open all available branch libraries (except those undergoing renovation or being used by the City) with expanded service by mid-July, with the full complement of services such as general space use, programs, and classes

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

Under dark, gray skies, with an intermittent drizzle falling, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced the resumption of Bronx Week 2021 on Wednesday, May 6, another welcome sign of things slowly returning to normal, after last year’s celebrations were cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Usually, Bronx Week is an annual 10-day series of events whereby The Bronx celebrates the best of the borough. “The fact of the matter is, what we’ve been going through, the last 13/14 months, there was an uncertainty,” Diaz Jr. said. “We weren’t able to do Bronx Week last year. [Now] we’re doing all

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New micro-grants are available for the City’s most under-resourced communities to provide free arts and culture performances in neighborhood parks, plazas and community gardens this summer and fall. City Parks Foundation is a nonprofit whose mission is to make parks vibrant centers of community through sports, arts, community-building and environmental education programs. It organizes the citywide “SummerStage” program each year in conjunction with Capital One. Last summer, the program was made virtual. Together with a newly formed “Culture in Parks and Plazas Coalition,” City Parks Foundation announced on Thursday, May 6, the creation of the “Green Arts Live NYC

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Video by CITIZEN This is a developing story. A residential fire in a multiple dwelling has been reported by the FDNY on the third floor of 13 Buchanan Place in the University Heights section of The Bronx. The incident was also reported on the Citizen’s App. According to Citizen users, firefighters were responding to a report of smoke coming from the roof of a house at around 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 8. Bronx All Hands Box 3191, 13 BUCHANAN PL, Multiple Dwelling 'B' Fire, 3 FLR — FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) May 9, 2021 Norwood News reached out to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City Police Department has launched a fresh appeal for the public’s assistance in providing any potentially helpful information regarding a double homicide investigation that occurred in 2013, following a fire in the 43rd precinct. On Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 11.04 a.m., police officers responded to a 911 call regarding a residential fire inside 2045 Story Avenue in the Unionport section of The Bronx, in the 43rd precinct. After the fire was extinguished, 24-year-old, Jonathan Toribio, and 24-year-old, Kennedy Sanchez, were discovered with both stab and burn wounds. Both individuals were pronounced deceased on the scene.

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Three years after a fire broke out in the Belmont section of the Bronx in which eleven people were hospitalized and two died, police have arrested a Bronx man, and charged him with murder and arson. The NYPD responded to a 911 call regarding a fire inside 2381 Hoffman Street in the Belmont section of the Bronx, in the 48th precinct on Monday, March 5, 2018 at 1.32 a.m., as reported at the time by The NY Post. FDNY personnel removed eleven aided people from inside the location, a 5-story residential apartment building, and EMS transported three to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City council member, Vanessa Gibson, announced her endorsement of Andrew Yang for mayor of New York City, while he endorsed the councilwoman for the position of Bronx borough president at a joint-campaign rally on the steps of Bronx Borough Hall on Saturday, May 8. Also present at the event was Congressman Ritchie Torres, representing the 15th congressional district in the Bronx, who has previously endorsed Gibson, and is co-chair of the “Yang for NY” campaign. “Andrew Yang has the bold and creative ideas we need to get our City back on track and ensure that the Bronx

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Join the Urban Park Rangers and be inspired by Mother Nature to build a nature-themed craft during a ‘Mother’s Day Hike and Craft” event. Date & Time Sunday, May 9, 2021, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Location Pelham Bay Park Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park Bruckner Boulevard and Wilkinson Avenue, The Bronx Directions to this location Cost Free Event Organizer Urban Park Rangers, Contact Number (718) 319-7258 NYC Parks & Recreation is offering outdoor programs with limited attendance so that you can have a safe and enjoyable time in parks. Based on New York State guidance for sports and recreation

Norwood News

Serving Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights

Archive

UPDATE NYS AG James Sends Letter to Facebook Opposing Proposed “Instagram for Kids” App

Public Libraries Expand Services Incrementally, Effective Monday, May 10

Bronx Week 2021 Brings Some Normalcy & Three New Walk of Fame Honorees

New Grants for Community Groups Offering Free, Outdoor Arts & Culture Performances this Summer

Further Update: “All Hands” Responding to Fire in Multiple Dwelling in University Heights:

Police Appeal for Help with 2013 Double-Homicide Investigation, following Fire

Update: 2018 Belmont Fire Deemed Double Homicide, Man Arrested for Murder, Arson

Andrew Yang and Vanessa Gibson Cross Endorse Each Other

Mother’s Day Hike and Craft at Pelham Bay Park